If you purchase something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Europe Chevron. Denmark Chevron. Copenhagen Chevron. When my husband and I planned a trip to Copenhagen this September, a place we had never been before, we were determined to find an Airbnb that made us feel like we were a part of the city. When booking places to stay, we ordinarily find ourselves drawn to features like modern kitchen appliances and luxury king-size beds, but this time we were excited to abandon our usual criteria and embrace a pleasant Nordic vibe: the Danes call it hygge.
Located in Vesterbro, a newly hip neighborhood in western Copenhagen, the apartment complex was on the ground floor of an old building built in Walking through a giant red door, we found ourselves in a shared courtyard filled with bright, basketed bicycles and gravel paths peppered with potted plants. Once inside the apartment, a short hallway led past the street-facing bedroom before opening into the kitchen and living room, the real heart of the home, where we spent the majority of our time.
In the dining cove, we ate cinnamon and apricot Danishes around a circular wooden table that was outfitted with a small cream lamp, woven chairs, candles, and a wool blanket. In my favorite corner, we sank into an engulfing tan leather chair, reading books next to a sunny windowsill full of tiny plants. On a museum-worthy wall, a smattering of framed artwork hung, lit by a hanging lamp that spilled soft light. The only element of the apartment that was not flawlessly comfortable was the lack of air conditioning, which is generally the case throughout housing in Europe.
The joy of our Airbnb continued as we stepped out of the home and onto the street. The location in the heart of Vesterbro was an ideal base for our adventures.
Once a part of town where prostitution and other nefarious nighttime activities took place, Vesterbro is now home to artsy bars , destination restaurants , and stylish boutiques. Its edgier past lives on in the tattoo shops and dive bars that remain. One of our favorite cocktails of the trip, a refreshing concoction of prosecco, limoncello, and soda, was a half-block from our Airbnb at JOJO , a chic, colorful bar where handcrafted cocktailsโpalomas, negronis, espresso martinisโwere on tap.
